Infoblox provides enterprise-grade DDI (DNS, DHCP, IPAM) services with powerful DNS firewalling, visibility, and automation. Yet many businesses are shifting to more flexible or cost-effective DDI solutions, especially as network security, hybrid deployment, and compliance become top priorities.
If you’re looking for DNS-layer threat defense, open-source IPAM, or cloud-native DNS resolution, here are 10 powerful Infoblox alternatives.
How to Choose the Right Infoblox Alternative?
When selecting the right Infoblox alternative, you need to look for the balance in network security, scalability, and operational fit. While all DDI platforms offer DNS, DHCP, and IPAM to some degree, their strengths suit various environments, budgets, and use cases. Here’s what we should look out for:
1. Assess Your Infrastructure Complexity
Single-site or SMBs may not need enterprise-grade DNS firewalls or global redundancy. Lightweight tools like Microsoft DNS or phpIPAM might be sufficient. Multi-site or hybrid cloud environments benefit from overlay platforms like Men&Mice Micetro or BlueCat, which support integration with AWS, Azure, and on-prem networks.
2. Prioritize Security Requirements
If DNS-layer threat protection is critical, focus on solutions with DNS firewalling, DNSSEC, and support for encrypted protocols (DoH, DoT), such as:
- EfficientIP
- Cisco Umbrella
- Cloudflare Gateway
- Look for platforms with real-time analytics, RPZ (Response Policy Zones), and SIEM integration.
3. Evaluate Deployment Model Compatibility
Choose a cloud-native or SaaS-based solution (like NS1 or Akamai) if you want minimal hardware and fast global performance. Select on-prem or hybrid options (like BlueCat or PowerDNS) for granular control and compliance in regulated industries.
4. Consider Automation & Integration Needs
Platforms like NS1 Connect or Men&Mice Micetro offer robust API-first designs, ideal for DevOps, IaC (Infrastructure as Code), and CI/CD environments. Evaluate if the DDI solution integrates with tools like Ansible, Terraform, Active Directory, or your security stack (e.g., firewalls, NAC).
5. Examine Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Factor in licensing fees, support contracts, hardware, and staffing for self-hosted solutions. Open-source stacks like BIND9 + phpIPAM reduce cost but increase maintenance overhead. Some vendors offer subscription-based pricing with full support, which may lower operational risk.
6. Look for Vendor Support and Update Cycles
Enterprise vendors like BlueCat, EfficientIP, and Cisco provide 24/7 support, security patching, and roadmap visibility. Open-source tools require internal expertise for updates, security hardening, and issue resolution.
Summary Checklist
Infoblox replacement isn’t just about matching features; you must consider your security posture, infrastructure goals, and future growth.
Factor | Look For |
Security | DNSSEC, RPZ, malware filtering, DoH/DoT |
Scalability | Multi-cloud and hybrid support |
Automation | REST APIs, CI/CD, policy templates |
Compliance | Logging, RBAC, DNS auditing |
Budget | Subscription vs. perpetual license vs. open-source |
Integration | AD, cloud DNS, SIEM, NAC, firewalls |
Best Infoblox Alternatives Worth Choosing
Keeping in mind the above factors, you can opt for the given Infoblox alternatives.
1. BlueCat
BlueCat offers an enterprise-grade DNS security with contextual policy enforcement, threat intelligence integration, and full visibility into hybrid environments. It’s ideal for large organizations that need policy-based automation.
Pros | Cons |
Context-aware DNS policy enforcement | High licensing cost |
Deep integration with SIEM and NAC tools | Complex initial configuration |
Full IPAM + DHCP + DNS stack | May be overkill for small networks |
2. Microsoft DNS with IPAM (Windows Server)
For Windows-based environments, Microsoft’s built-in DNS and IPAM tools offer seamless AD integration, easy DNS management, and basic IP address tracking.
Pros | Cons |
Built into Windows Server | No DNS threat intelligence or analytics |
Ideal for AD and Group Policy environments | Limited multi-cloud compatibility |
No extra licensing for existing environments | Manual IP conflict management |
3. EfficientIP SOLIDserver
EfficientIP prioritizes DNS firewalling, DNSSEC, and threat visibility. It offers high availability, metadata-enriched IPAM, and support for DNS over TLS/HTTPS.
Pros | Cons |
Built-in DNS firewall and DNS tunneling detection | Higher learning curve |
Secure DNS protocol support (DoT, DoH) | UI can feel dense for first-time users |
Fully integrated IPAM/DHCP/DNS | Less brand recognition vs. Infoblox |
4. Men&Mice Micetro
Micetro is a powerful overlay solution that centralizes control over existing Microsoft, BIND, and cloud DNS services. It’s API-first, scalable, and supports decentralized access control.
Pros | Cons |
Vendor-agnostic DDI overlay | UI not as modern as competitors |
API-first architecture with strong automation | Fewer built-in DNS security features |
Great for multi-cloud and hybrid DNS | Smaller partner ecosystem |
5. Akamai Edge DNS
Akamai Edge DNS uses a globally distributed Anycast network to provide ultra-resilient, secure DNS resolution with DDoS protection and minimal latency.
Pros | Cons |
Global Anycast with high resilience | No DHCP or IPAM functionality |
Built-in DNSSEC and DNS filtering | Limited policy control |
DDoS protection at DNS layer | Enterprise pricing may be restrictive |
6. NS1 Connect
NS1 focuses on smart DNS automation, traffic steering, and integration with modern DevOps pipelines. It’s programmable and supports automated failover.
Pros | Cons |
DNS-based application traffic control | Weak DHCP/IPAM coverage |
Strong API and CI/CD integrations | Requires technical DevOps familiarity |
Supports DNS filtering & analytics | Advanced features behind premium tiers |
7. Cisco Umbrella (DNS Security)
Cisco Umbrella offers DNS-layer security with advanced threat detection and global coverage. It’s ideal for securing users, especially remote and roaming endpoints.
Pros | Cons |
DNS-based threat blocking | Not a full DDI platform |
Cloud-managed, no hardware needed | Lacks deep IPAM/DHCP tools |
Rapid deployment across devices | Some analytics are behind the higher tiers |
8. BIND9 + phpIPAM (Open Source Stack)
This open-source combination provides highly customizable DNS and IPAM capabilities. Ideal for organizations that want transparency and cost-efficiency without vendor lock-in.
Pros | Cons |
Fully open-source and free | Manual updates and patching |
Flexible for custom deployments | No native DNS firewalling |
Large community support | Requires in-house DNS/IPAM expertise |
9. PowerDNS + NetBox
PowerDNS is a modular, security-oriented DNS server with DNSSEC, RPZ, and API access. Combined with NetBox for IPAM and infrastructure modeling, it’s a strong open-source DDI alternative.
Pros | Cons |
Strong DNS security (DNSSEC, RPZ) | Requires integration/setup effort |
NetBox adds detailed infra modeling | Not plug-and-play like Infoblox |
Full API access and automation | No commercial support unless self-hosted enterprise version used |
10. Cloudflare MagicDNS + Gateway
Cloudflare offers secure, encrypted DNS (DoH, DoT) with global performance and DNS-layer malware filtering. MagicDNS plus Gateway enforces policies and traffic rules without needing appliances.
Pros | Cons |
Zero Trust DNS filtering | No native IPAM/DHCP |
DNSSEC, DoH, DoT enabled by default | Policy management is DNS-only |
Fast global propagation via CDN | May not support granular DDI needs |
Comparative Pricing Table
Here’s how you can evaluate budget alignment before committing to a DDI solution.
Platform | Pricing (Starting) | Licensing Type | Notable Inclusions |
BlueCat | Custom/Quote-based | Enterprise license | Full DDI + DNS firewall |
Microsoft DNS/IPAM | Included in Windows Server | Per-core/Server | Native to Windows environments |
EfficientIP SOLIDserver | Quote-based | Enterprise license | DNSSEC, IPAM, DNS firewall |
Men&Mice Micetro | Custom pricing | Subscription | Multi-vendor DDI control |
Akamai Edge DNS | $450+/month (est.) | Usage-based | Anycast DNS, DDoS protection |
NS1 Connect | $300+/month (est.) | SaaS license | Programmable DNS, traffic steering |
Cisco Umbrella | $2.70/user/month (DNS Essentials) | SaaS license | DNS-layer security |
BIND9 + phpIPAM | Free | Open-source | Custom DNS/IPAM deployments |
PowerDNS + NetBox | Free (community) or support tier | Open-source | DNSSEC, IPAM with modeling |
Cloudflare Gateway | Free basic tier / $7+/user/month | SaaS | DNS filtering, DoH, Zero Trust |
Can I use open-source tools like BIND and phpIPAM securely?
Yes, BIND9 and phpIPAM can be secure if properly configured. You must ensure:
- Regular patching
- DNSSEC is enabled
- Logging and ACLs are in place
- You’re hosting in a secure environment
Also Read: Alternatives & Competitors to Perimeter 81
Frequently Asked Questions
Men&Mice Micetro and NS1 Connect are excellent for multi-cloud DNS and IPAM orchestration. They support AWS Route 53, Azure DNS, and Google Cloud DNS with automation, role-based access control, and API integration.
The most cost-effective alternative is the BIND9 + phpIPAM open-source stack. If you need vendor support with budget control, Microsoft DNS or HIDIVE (for very small IPAM needs) also work well in tightly scoped networks.
Cisco Umbrella is a great DNS security solution but not a full DDI replacement. It’s best used for protecting user DNS queries with malware detection and threat blocking, especially in remote or hybrid environments.
No, Cloudflare MagicDNS + Gateway focuses solely on DNS-layer security and encrypted resolution. It does not manage DHCP or IP address assignments. However, it’s excellent for Zero Trust access, malware filtering, and fast global resolution.
Final Thoughts
Infoblox remains a dominant DDI provider, but if you’re looking for more agility, lower cost, or modern security frameworks, you might need a shift. Each solution brings its own strengths and features to integrate with programmable DNS, open-source flexibility, global Anycast and Zero Trust overlays.
- Also Read: Alternatives & Competitors to CISCO Umbrella